Texas Senator Carol Alvarado Begins Filibuster In opposition to Republican Election Invoice, Including Gasoline to Democratic Battle to Block Laws

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Due to Republican electoral restrictions, the Texas House of Representatives sought to round up absent Democrats and suspended work in the Texas Senate on Wednesday night when Senator Carol Alvarado began filibustering. .. Republican Priority Vote Bill.

“I’m getting up today to reject Senate Bill 1,” said Alvarado, who began filibustering just before 5:50 pm, and the Chamber of Commerce was nearing the final vote on the goals of the Houston Democratic Party’s efforts. ..

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Democrats are numerous in the Chamber of Commerce, but they can occasionally block laws by talking about it indefinitely – usually before an important deadline or the end of a meeting. However, Alvarado’s filibuster can be more of a token gesture than a credible attempt to block the bill from being passed. Parliament is only the fifth day of a 30-day special session and it is said that the Democrats left the House of Representatives without enough members to have a majority of Republicans in the room to pass laws.

Prior to the filibuster, Alvarado told the Texas Tribune that “it’s a Senate tradition,” just as the House Democrats took a quorum break to block the law and promised “while I am.” He said he would use the “tools in our box”. Energy. “

“I am using what is available to me in the Senate,” Alvarado said, admitting that the bill would eventually be passed by the Senate. “Filibuster won’t stop it, but Filibuster is also used to slow down the problem – to make you aware of the danger – and I do. That is. “

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Watch a live stream from the Texas Senate

To keep filibuster going, Alvarado must stand in the Senate and speak continuously without leaning on desks or chairs. If she gets out of the way, a series of commands can cease her efforts.

SB 1 is a resurrection attempt by the Senate to restrict voting by prohibiting local government officials from taking various steps to make voting more accessible and further strengthen the voting process through the mail. SB 1 is similar to the Senate-approved law in its first special session, a disability affecting democratic lawmakers, civil rights groups, and bills restricting access and suppressing marginalized voters. Used by the defenders of the.

“We talk [it being] It’s easy to vote, hard to cheat, and that’s the purpose of the bill, ”said Senator Bryan Hughes, Republican of Mineola who drafted the bill and gave the Senate on 11/18. the first approval of SB1. Said early in the day. Vote of the partisans. “The crackdown on voters who try to force voters, those who try to mislead voters, and those who try to break in between voters and ballots. It’s not in Texas. “

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SB 1 is promoted under the guise of Texas Republicans’ electoral integrity, with new rules for those that increase the freedom of partisan election observers and help voters, including people with disabilities, to vote. Eliminate the possibility of criminal punishment.

Republicans argue that defenders of persons with disabilities want the wording of SB 1 to protect lawmakers by limiting the support that voters with disabilities can receive and possibly subjecting those who support them. While they continue to warn of the dangers of depriving voters of their rights, they are pushing for these changes to increase penalties for mistakes. There is no evidence of widespread fraud in Texas.

“When will crackdown on the voters’ harvest workers be voter suppression?” Said Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston. “Who wants a voter harvester? Why do we tolerate it? We should not.”

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Hughes also defended the bill, suggesting that it would allow additional time to vote. SB 1 must add one hour of early voting, increase it from 8 hours to 9 hours per day and provide at least 12 hours for voting in the second week of early voting for state elections. Lower the population threshold from.

But the bill is local, like 24-hour and drive-through votes backed by Alvarado’s hometown of Harris County, even when Texas Foreign Secretary’s top election officials say they don’t know. Wants to forbid the choices. Evidence of fraud related to these initiatives.

These bans have sparked some anger among Democrats and voters as Harris County has shown the initiative is particularly successful in reaching voters.

“The provisions of this bill will make it easier for some people in Texas to vote, but also make it harder for historically disadvantaged colored communities to vote,” said State Senator Judith. -Zaffirini, said D-Laredo. “If Senate Bill 1 is passed, there will be fewer opportunities for the color community.”

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She sees a new window in the Early Vote Act (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) will shorten extension times in some of the state’s largest counties during the 2020 election. Pointed out. And that’s where one of the three Asian Texas people lives. “

Prior to the Chamber of Commerce’s preliminary vote on the bill early Wednesday, Hughes accepted a number of amendments that addressed at least one concern expressed by voters.

SB 1 has a new postal ballot amendment process that appears to be a concession to the Democrats who promoted its creation that is usually rejected due to lack of signatures or approval given by the local jury. Contains the languages ​​that make it possible. It does not belong to the voters who returned the ballot. Rather than requiring voters to visit the county’s electoral office directly, the Senate approved an amendment that will allow them to address these issues online.

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The Chamber of Commerce has also added changes that allow their hardening process to cover the new identity requirements the bill puts in place for Texans voting by mail. SB 1 requires these voters to include the last four digits of their driver’s license or social security number on the ballot application and envelope used to return the ballot. This information must match the person’s voter record for the vote to be counted.

The bill also allows local electoral authorities to initiate postal voting to voters over 65 who automatically qualify for postal voting, or to cancel voting. It is forbidden to make applications to local groups that support them. Political parties can submit speculative applications on their own.

The final passing of SB1 in the Senate is expected to be the latest strike in the Republican fight against the state electoral process.

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Disclosure: The Texas Secretary of State is a financial backer of the Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, non-partisan news agency funded in part by donations from members, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in grandstand journalism. You can find a full list of them here.

Texas Senator Carol Alvarado begins filibuster against Republican electoral law, stepping up the Democrats’ fight to block the legislation

The Texan Senator Carol Alvarado starts filibuster against the Republican electoral law and intensifies the democratic fight to block the legislation